Garry Howatt
Encyclopedia
Garry Robert Charles Howatt (born September 26, 1952 in Glendon
, Alberta
) is a retired Canadian ice hockey
forward
.
Howatt started his National Hockey League
career with the New York Islanders
in 1972. He also played for the New Jersey Devils
and Hartford Whalers
. He retired after the 1984 season. Howatt was known for his toughness and, due to his small size, had the nickname "Toy Tiger."
Howatt enjoyed his greatest popularity with the Islanders, remaining on the team from their first season, through their formative years of steady improvement, right through to their first two Stanley Cups in 1980 and 1981. Howatt was a great fan favorite and to this day remains near and dear to the hearts of nostalgic fans of the great Islander teams of the 1970s and 1980s. Fans loved Howatt for his scrappy, energetic style of play and, most of all, his willingness to stand up to the giant enforcers of his generation such as Dave Schultz, Paul Holmgren, Barry Beck, Dave Semenko, Behn Wilson, Bob Kelly, Danny Gare, Willi Plett, Terry O'Reilly, Stan Jonathan, Wayne Cashman, Bryan Maxwell, Jay Wells, Tiger Williams, Dave Hoyda, Jim Korn, and many more. Howatt was just 5'9" and weighed 170, giving height, weight and reach to just about anybody he fought. Even when Howatt lost a fight, he would skate away with his characteristic grin that would delight fans. For this reason, the fans established a Garry Howatt-Bob Nystrom (a fellow NY Islanders pugilist) booster club, called the Dynamic Duo Fan Club, that was active throughout the 1970s.
When he left the Islanders in 1981, Howatt held the Islanders' career penalty-minutes record (1,466) and career playoffs penalty-minutes record (279). Both records were later broken. In Hartford, Howatt scored a career-high 50 points and was offered a long-term contract and the team's captaincy. However, in his words, "bad advice from some former teammates" led him to request a trade to New Jersey where, after squabbling with the team's management, he played only sporadically before ending his career with the Maine Mariners of the AHL.
On January 15, 1983 Howatt (as a member of the New Jersey Devils) and Mickey Volcan
(as a member of the Hartford Whalers) become the only active players to officiate an NHL game when a snowstorm prevented a referee and a linesman from reaching the Hartford Civic Center for a game between the Whalers and Devils.
On a personal note, Howatt suffered from epilepsy and was recognized by the epilepsy community for his grittyness by being awarded the National Epileptic Foundation Man of the Year for 1974. He currently resides in New Jersey where he owns and operates his own business. He sold the entity, Mt. Freedom Golf, around 2010. In Randolph, NJ.
Glendon, Alberta
Glendon is a village in northern Alberta north of St. Paul.In 1993, the town unveiled its roadside tribute to the perogy. Their "Giant Perogy," complete with fork, is 25 feet tall. It is one of the Giants of the Prairies. Next to the roadside attraction is the Perogy Cafe, which serves...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
) is a retired Canadian ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
forward
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
.
Howatt started his National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
career with the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in 1972. He also played for the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
. He retired after the 1984 season. Howatt was known for his toughness and, due to his small size, had the nickname "Toy Tiger."
Howatt enjoyed his greatest popularity with the Islanders, remaining on the team from their first season, through their formative years of steady improvement, right through to their first two Stanley Cups in 1980 and 1981. Howatt was a great fan favorite and to this day remains near and dear to the hearts of nostalgic fans of the great Islander teams of the 1970s and 1980s. Fans loved Howatt for his scrappy, energetic style of play and, most of all, his willingness to stand up to the giant enforcers of his generation such as Dave Schultz, Paul Holmgren, Barry Beck, Dave Semenko, Behn Wilson, Bob Kelly, Danny Gare, Willi Plett, Terry O'Reilly, Stan Jonathan, Wayne Cashman, Bryan Maxwell, Jay Wells, Tiger Williams, Dave Hoyda, Jim Korn, and many more. Howatt was just 5'9" and weighed 170, giving height, weight and reach to just about anybody he fought. Even when Howatt lost a fight, he would skate away with his characteristic grin that would delight fans. For this reason, the fans established a Garry Howatt-Bob Nystrom (a fellow NY Islanders pugilist) booster club, called the Dynamic Duo Fan Club, that was active throughout the 1970s.
When he left the Islanders in 1981, Howatt held the Islanders' career penalty-minutes record (1,466) and career playoffs penalty-minutes record (279). Both records were later broken. In Hartford, Howatt scored a career-high 50 points and was offered a long-term contract and the team's captaincy. However, in his words, "bad advice from some former teammates" led him to request a trade to New Jersey where, after squabbling with the team's management, he played only sporadically before ending his career with the Maine Mariners of the AHL.
On January 15, 1983 Howatt (as a member of the New Jersey Devils) and Mickey Volcan
Mickey Volcan
Mickey Stephen Volcan is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman who played 162 National Hockey League games for the Hartford Whalers and Calgary Flames from 1980 until 1984. He recorded eight goals and 33 assists in his career. Volcan was a third round draft pick, 50th overall by the Whalers...
(as a member of the Hartford Whalers) become the only active players to officiate an NHL game when a snowstorm prevented a referee and a linesman from reaching the Hartford Civic Center for a game between the Whalers and Devils.
On a personal note, Howatt suffered from epilepsy and was recognized by the epilepsy community for his grittyness by being awarded the National Epileptic Foundation Man of the Year for 1974. He currently resides in New Jersey where he owns and operates his own business. He sold the entity, Mt. Freedom Golf, around 2010. In Randolph, NJ.